JAMES PATERSON GENERAL HAULAGE
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0 ome things in life are certain, some are not It's a fact that a haulier needs to tailor his fleet to his market. Harder to prove is the existence of mysterious underwater creatures. When we meet Jimmy Paterson, owner of Inverness-based James Paterson General Haulage, the first statement is clearly correct. But as CM peers into the dark depths of Loch Ness, the presence of the legendary aquatic creature is, well, not so obvious.
But that uncertainty, although inevitable for any visitor to Loch Ness, is less of a concern to Paterson, for whom road haulage is more pressing an issue than monsters of the deep.
For Paterson, tapping into local business arid investing in exactly the right equipment has been the winning formula since he founded the company in 1970. "I started out selling bags of firewood locally," he says. "At that time I was based at a sawmill in Smithton, Inverness. I was running a Commer 7.5-tanner, carrying wood to homes in the Inverness area.
"I also sub-contracted for Inverness-based National Carriers," he adds. "I was carrying fish from local wholesalers in Mallaig and Ullapool to Inverness. Then I got a chance to haul for a construction firm."
Rising to the challenge, he invested in tippers. In the nineties work on new buildings dried up, but there was plenty of light construction, such as adding extensions to existing buildings. Paterson wasted no time in getting rid of his tippers and, doing his homework, he spotted a gap in the local market: "I knew that there was just one operator with lorry-mounted cranes. I saw the potential for carrying loads like breeze blocks, so I bought Hiah lorrymounted cranes."
Paterson's journey into the uncharted world of lorry cranes did not worry him; he had learned that you can get the work if you have already proved your reliability. "By then my name was well known," he says.
Today the fleet of io light CVs reflects the work on offer in the Inverness area: and flatbeds are king. It is an all-Volvo fleet, ranging from 7.5-tormer FIGs to FMrz and FLiz i6-tonners. "I have had other vehicles, but I find Volvo best for fuel economy, and it is easy to get spare parts," he explains.
What exactly is Paterson carrying? He peers across a tranquil Loch Ness and replies: -The majority of work is shifting portable buildings from a variety of local firms. We carry these all over Scotland, and also to England and some to Wales. And we always backload; usually loads such as tiles and building materials."
Roof tresses are another common load, and Paterson's vehicles carry helicopter fuel across to the Isle of Skye. The roof tresses are picked up from Aberdeen and Inverness (although from the same firm) and here Paterson has the luxury of a contract. "I pre fer contract work because it is more steady, and I can invest in the right equipment," he says.
The correct gear is essential, especially when you could be called upon to haul somewhat unusual consignments. "Last year I carried a welding machine worth frrn, my most expensive load ever," says Paterson. The route was from Inverness to Swindon in Wiltshire—fortunately all the overheads, including the necessary insurance, were passed on to the customer.
CM takes a quick glance at Loch Ness, There's nothing stirring. But back to haulage. How does Paterson see his place in the industry? "I am happy with what I have got," he says. And, once again, he stresses the importance of reputation: "Names are the main thing. It is not what you know, but who you know. And if you can give service the customer will come back."
We can't leave Loch Ness without asking a final question: does Paterson hold out any hopes of seeing the creature emerge from the depths? "Maybe one day," he says, looking across the dark water